In June 2008, The Wheat Ridge Mayor's Office, in conjunction with the Senior Resource Center (SRC), developed a pilot program to provide seniors free transportation from pickup points within the City. City Council also approved $20,000 to support SRC transportation services and the pilot program for Wheat Ridge seniors.

The Wheat Ridge Senior Circulator Bus runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It make stops at 3 to 4 different senior communities and drives seniors to the Applewood Plaza or other stops that were requested, such as Safeway and the Farmers' Market. (SRC has responded to customer requests and expanded the service to include these other stops).

In June 2009, Council approved an expanded bus service using Community Development Block Grants Funds (CDBG) instead of funding the service from the City's General Fund. The expanded service will include an enhanced, modified fixed stop or route deviation, adding one hour per day which will allow neighbors to have door to door service if they are within a few blocks of the route. The cost will be $28,600 and the funding will be CDBG funds. Thanks to Councilmember Dean Gokey and the City's Community Development Department for accessing the CDBG funds for this program through Jefferson County. Thanks also to the SRC for being pro-active and developing the expanded route concepts.

The Mayor's Office will be meeting with the Senior Resource Center to finalize the bus route and both entities will be promoting the program to seniors within our community. We need to get the word out so seniors in within the community may take advantage of the program.

For more information please contact the Mayor's Office at 303.235.2815 or the Senior Resource Center at 303.238.8151.